Separator



Feb. 3. i925. 1,52%992 J. c. MAXWELL S EPARATOR Filed Nov. 13, 1925 gwuzntoz Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

" STATES JOSEPH G. MAXWELL, OF BLACKFOOT, IDAHO.

SEPARATOR.

Application filed November 13, 1923.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH C. MAXWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blackfoot, in the county of Bingham and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to separators, and has as an object the provision of means for thoroughly and efficiently separating the grain from the straw. A further object of the invention is the provision of means for adjusting the separating means in accordance with the kind of grain to be dealt with.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 1, 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan View.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3, 3, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a like section showing a modification.

As shown, the device comprises a series of sp'aced bars 10, preferably having curved side surfaces, meeting at an apex 11, and each bar having a base 12. The bars are shown as each abutting against a vertical rib 13, which rib is slightly higher than the bars, and which acts as a back-bone for the device. In the upper edge of the rib 13 there are shown pins 14 arranged at an angle to the rib in the direction in which the straw from which the grain has been separated will travel over the device. A sliding plate 15 is shown underlying the bars 10, and having openings 16 which may be caused to underlie more or less the bases 12 of the bars.

The openings 16 are preferably substantially equal in width to the width of the bases 12 of the bars 10, and the said bases 12 are also-preferably sp'aced apart a distance substantially equal to their own width. As a result of this relation of parts, the openings 16 may be made to register with the spaces between the bases so as to utilize the entire width of the openings, or the adjustment of the plate to be described may be such as to almost entirely close the openings 16 by sliding the same under the bases 12, thus giving the maximum possible range of adjustment with the device. By variation of the amount of overlap of the bases 12 with the opening 16 the size of the effective openings may be varied in accordance with the Serial No. 674,511.

needs, as determined by the nature of the grain to be separated.

To support the plate 15, there is shown a pair of bars or ribs 17, 18, placed on edge. and downwardly spaced from the bases 12 of the bars 10 an amount equal to the thickness of the plate 15.

To provide a ready adjustment for the relation between the plate 15 and the bars 10, there is shown a screw-threaded member 19, passing through an opening in a downwardly turned flange 20 upon the plate 15, and having a head 21 bearing against the tlange. An adjusting nut 22 is threaded upon the screw 19 and is adapted to pull the flange 20 toward the abutment 23, through which the screw 19 passes, and which abutment is shown as bearing against the ends of the ribs 17, 18. To hold the flange 20 sp'aced from the abutment 23, a spring 24 is provided bearing against the flange 20 and against the abutment, the action of the nut 22 being to compress the spring 24 to bring about the desired adjustment of the open ings 16.

The device as a whole may be placed in a separator and may be the full width thereof. or a portion of the width, in which latter case two or three devices of this nature would be placed side by side, and may be vibrated or shaken by suitable mechanism. not shown, in the manner well known in the separator art.

The usual blast provided by the fan for separation of the chaff from the grain passing from below the plate 15 upwardly, through the opening 16. will carry any chaff which falls between the bars 10 up wardly, and due to the angular curvature of the surfaces of the bars will direct the chaff in the direction of travel of the straw, so that it will be efliciently taken along with the straw and separated from the grain. The amount of air passing through the openings 16 will be directly proportional to the size of the openings, and with a heavy grain which is not readily carried along with the blast the openings may be made larger, or where there is a large volume of grain, as in threshing oats, so that the volume of grain may readily pass through the openings and still sufficient air be allowed to pass to separate the chaff therefrom. With small seed, such as clover seed, the openings may be made comparatively smaller and still allow sufficient air isztaez to pass through to separate the lighter particles from the seed, while allowing pas sage of the seed through. the plate.

The modification of Fig. 4; illustrates a different form of adjusting means comprising a shaft 25, journaled in bushings pro vided in ribs 17 and 1S and having rigidly secured thereto a plurality of pinions 2G coacting with racks 27 carried by the, plate 15. Revolution of the shaft 25 will, with this arrangement, produce longitudinal movement of the plate 15 to vary the size of the openings 16.. A hand wheel 28 rigidly secured to the shaft 25 is shown for procuring the desired adjustment.

To lock the parts in adjusted position there is shown a hand wheel 31 which is utilized as a lock nut and which is interior ly threaded to engage the threads upon the shaft 25. Tightening of the hand wheel 31. against the'end of the tubular extension 29 of bushing 30 will pull the pins 32 and against the bushings, thus effectually locking the shaft 25 against rotation. It will be obvious that one or more of-the rack and pinion adjusting means 26 and 27 may be utilized.

Minor changes maybe made in the phys ical embodiment of the invention without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. A separating element for grain comprisin in combination, a series of bars having surfaces curving upwardly and in thedirection of straw thereover, and relatively extensive bases, a plate having openings and underlying said bases, means to causerelative movement between said plate and said bars to vary thev amount of said openings covered by said bases.

o. A grain separating element comprising, in combination, a pair of supporting,

bars, a plate having-a series of openings, supported by said bars and having a downturned flange, a screw coacting with said flange to move said plate, and a springv compressed by such movement to holdtheplate .7

in adjusted position, a series of spaced bars having bases substantially equal in extent to said openings, thebasesof saidbars being. spaced a distance substantially equal to their width, whereby movement of said plate may vary the width of said openings through a range substantially equal: to the size of the openings.

a. A. grain separating element comprising, in combination, a supporting. plate on edge, a series of bars extending laterally from said plate, said bars having relatively extensive bases and surfaces upwardlycurving in the direction of movement of straw over the device, said surfaces meetingin an upper edge, a plate underlyingsaid bars having openings. substantially equal in width to the width of thebases of thebars, and means to adjust the relative position. of the bars and plate to vary the exposed por lion of the openings between the bars,

JOSEPH C. MAXWELL. 

